The Australian Lunar coin series celebrates Chinese astrology and the Chinese zodiac. The 12-year series features releases marking the Year of the Mouse, Year of the Ox, Year of the Tiger, Year of the Rabbit, Year of the Dragon, Year of the Snake, Year of the Horse, Year of the Goat, Year of the Monkey, Year of the Rooster, Year of the Dog and Year of the Pig. 2012 is the year of the Dragon.

Australian silver lunar coins are official legal tender of Australia and the finishing, weight and purity are guaranteed by the Perth mint and Western Australia Government. The front of the coin displays a dragon and the script "Year of the Dragon". The obverse features Queen Elizabeth II. As with other Perth Mint coins the quality is very good and each coin is individually cased in a sturdy plastic case instead of a coin tube. Beside their investment value Perth Mint coins make excellent gift items due to their quality and individual packaging.

Year of the Dragon - 1 Kilo

The Lunar Silver Coins are all considered legal tender under the Australian Currency Act of 1965. As such, their weight and purity are guaranteed by the Australian government. This is a 1 KG troy ounce coin. The nominal face value is 30 Australian dollars.

Maximum Diameter: 100.60 mm

Maximum Thickness: 14.60 mm

Finesse (% purity): 99.9

All our Perth Mint coins are shipped directly from the Mint.

About the Perth Mint

The Perth Mint, wholly-owned by the State Government of Western Australia, is the official issuer of the Australian Federal Government's Gold and Silver Bullion Coin Program. The Mint opened in 1899 in response to the discovery of rich gold deposits in Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie. It was Australia's third branch of Britain's Royal Mint - the others being the Sydney Mint and the Melbourne Mint (both closed).

The Perth Mint remained under Britain's jurisdiction until 1 July 1970, when ownership transferred to the State Government of Western Australia.

In 2003, The Perth Mint officially opened an 8,400 square metre state-of-the-art manufacturing facility next door to its original limestone building. Dominating the Mint's heritage precinct, these two important buildings are powerful symbols of more than 100 years of minting excellence in Western Australia.